DOA3 is another gorgeous 3D fighter from Team Ninja...
a quality sequel sure to please most fans of DOA2/Hardcore. But what about the
rest of the fighting game community? What if easy-to-do counter moves and
bouncy boobs just aren't enough to keep you interested?
The DOA series still seems to be focused more
on "bouncy" girls and flashy stage interactions than truly authentic martial arts or technical gameplay.
Personally, the character designs of DOA still can't hold my interest...
especially when compared characters from other universes in the fighting game
realm. While
DOA3 may attract more
casual gamers with its pretty visuals, many serious 3D fighting game
players will probably look elsewhere to get their fix. ~TFG
Webmaster
STORY:
Ryu Hayabusa, the Super Ninja, put a stop to the evil doings of Tengu.
Nevertheless, it was too late to stop the Tengu of Destruction from
triggering a massive, worldwide collapse. The collapse churns up a dense cloud
that covers the entire planet in a shroud of darkness and fear. DOATEC has gone
astray, turning into the hunting grounds for power-hungry scam artists. This is
when DOATEC's development department (a fortress for state-of-the-art military
technology) witnesses the success of a genius. Following Project Alpha
and Project Epsilon, the ever ambitious Dr. Victor Donocan completes the Omega
Project, producing a new Superhuman: Genra. This man, who was once leader of the
Hajin Mon Ninja, is no longer human. He (or it) is a force of singular and
unprecedented capabilities. A slaughterhouse has now been provided as the
exclusive domain of the Omega superhuman. It is a realm that has come to be
known as the world Combat Championship.
Gorgeous girls... and
graphics.
REVIEW:
Dead or Alive 3
adds three new characters to the roster (plus a non-playable boss character), along with some
all new interactive
environments to explore. Gameplay enhancements
include: increased counter periods, unrestricted 3D-axis movement,
and less emphasis on juggling combos... all which makes the
game a bit more suited for beginners. However, DOA3 does offer the most
detailed gameplay experience of the series yet. Additionally, those new to 3D fighting games
can easily find themselves being drawn in by the
amazing graphics and the innovative environmental interaction of DOA3.
The ability to knock your opponent off of some very high
places is still the one of the main draws of the game.
Hitomi knows how to punch.
DOA3 was easily one of the best looking
fighting games at the time, showing off incredibly lush 3D environments and
excellently rendered character models. The only flaws are some low quality
background textures, but the combat action does a good job of taking your attention
away from the imperfections. The single-player story mode is a satisfying
play-through, featuring some decent AI
opponents. The story mode is a bit better than in DOA2, but that's really
not saying much... because there's still not much of a story at all. A lot
of the cut-scenes are still on the silly side of things.
Where DOA3 shines
most is in the graphics department. Once again, characters & backgrounds are some
of the best to date and the animation & "ouch factor" is effective for the most part. The way your opponent smashes into a tree or through a wall looks
notably painful. The falling animations in DOA never fail to make you cringe,
although certain attacks don't look quite as painful as they should. Actually, quite a few punches & kicks in DOA just don't have that
"oomph," even though the opposing
character goes flying backwards about 10 feet.
Most of the martial arts is authentic, but there are some more extravagant &
sillier
moves that probably should've been left out of the game.
Epic rooftop battles.
Like in the prequels, high level play
becomes a "counter fest". The fact that
nearly every
move can be easily countered with ONE button becomes frustrating and doesn't
exactly reward skill all the time. Yes, it takes "some" skill to
counter, but the timing is a little too foolproof... for my tastes at least. Counters aren't even
punch/kick specific (like in the Tekken series) so countering in DOA is noob-friendly
to say the least. Beginner players may not think it's a bad thing, but for a
fighting game that wants to last in the competitive scene... it's a flaw. Still, DOA3 offers a solid fighting
system, but falls
a bit short on gameplay when compared to the top 3D fighting games of 2001.
)
)
)
Most of the martial arts is authentic, but there are some more extravagant &
sillier
moves that probably should've been left out of the game.
